Meta's internal employees don't have to go into the office for a long time, this also applies to some of its contract workers.
BuzzFeedNews reports, the Accenture subcontractor that employs these Facebook moderators has dropped the requirement for hundreds of Facebook moderators to return to work live in Mountain View, California on January 24.
Initially there were 400 Facebook moderators who were asked to start working again in the office at the end of December 2021, but considering the new variant of COVID-19 namely Omicron is starting to run rampant the decision was protested.
Many moderators threatened to resign. Moderators said it was impossible to maintain Accenture's social distancing requirements given the crowded offices, closed stairs, poor enforcement and the company did not provide exemptions for workers with immune disorders or with vulnerable family members.
An Accenture spokesperson confirmed moderators working from home should continue to do so based on COVID-19 health data, and claimed the company is working collaboratively to accommodate law-abiding individuals.
Meta, meanwhile said it would continue to prioritize the health and safety of all workers. Meta employees themselves can delay returning to the office until the end of June, as quoted by Engadget.
Moderators accused Meta (then Facebook) of risking their lives in 2020 by asking some contractors to work in offices even when family members were particularly vulnerable to the virus.
Meta denied some of the claims at the time, but not all. It also comes after a $52 million settlement with moderators who said they experienced PTSD and other mental health issues while screening harmful material.
However, this latest incident shows Meta is still not allaying concerns about the well-being of its moderation team.